Menorah Requirements

Q. What substances may a Chanukah Menorah consist of? Do I need a Menorah or can candles be connected directly to a surface such as a ledge?

A. In the Kaf HaChaim (673:60) Rav Yaakov Chaim Sofer (1870 – 1939) listed fifteen common substances that may be used for a Chanukah Menorah. The top three are gold, silver and copper. Further down on the list we find non-metallic substances such as glass, wood and china. One should obtain a beautiful menorah, to the best of his ability (Mishna Berurah 673:28). Egg shells, hollowed out potatoes, lemons and other fruits and vegetables may not be used in place of a menorah as this degrades the mitzvah (Kaf HaChaim 673:61-62). All permitted substances must be able to stand on their own accord without being propped up (ibid 673:60).

The Mishnah Berurah (671:18) writes that wax candles do not need to be placed into a menorah or other vessel. They may be connected to a surface such as a wall or a ledge, provided the candles are well spaced. Each candle must be at least a fingerbreadth apart from the next. However, there were poskim such as the Chesed L'Avrohom and Avnei Nezer (siman 500) who wrote that a menorah is a requirement. Although this is not the mainstream view, if one has the ability to use a menorah, it is best to do so and fulfill all opinions (Piskei Teshuvos 673:11).

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.